I have just been encouraging one of my 4yr old daughters to draw a picture of a boat (well she did say she wanted to help me with my work, and I had to get her away from the laptop!).

Imagine my joy when she declared, part-way through drawing, "now I need to draw the toestraps."

THATS MY GIRL!

Mags - she meant stirrups - the "p" word is never far away.

Garry,

That is so funny and so true. My 3 year old daughter has been riding for the past year and already wants a Pony of her own! Bang goes the idea of another Merlin for the next 10+ years! Mags you have got no chance of escaping the "P" word matey especially when it comes to girls and horses.

Thats easily solved - hire a mad stallion for a 10 min ride, and scare all love of horses right out of them, heh heh!

A few years back I needed a shopping list for a dinghy refit and my daughter then twelve was eager to help by doing the writing as I dictated. When I reached the chandlery I found myself requiring "toast racks". 
I know we need somewhere for snacks but...

Crumbs!!

I reckon a Merlin in a Force 4/5 equates to the mad stallion so I guess that you will have to pick your moment to test out your lightweight crew - but I have to confess Mags it looks promising in one so young.

Strange this has been posted this week - there's been far too much mention of that P word in my house recently - however whilst having some help this last weekend with some rerigging my 8 year old demonstrated an excellent ability to adjust the spinnaker pole height and tie knots!

No probs in my family, my ten year old son sails an optimist and his old boat is being refurbished for my seven year old daughter who's very keen. The Horse? well they're half French so it was very nice washed down with a Cote de Rhone!

Mags

The secret is to make sure that you do not buy a horse or even a pony.  Money needs to be poured in at both ends and they also kick & bite (the ponies as well as the daughters.
It is much cheaper to pay for regular lessons and as these are available on Saturdays / after school, it leaves Sundays free for daughter to crew.  Also good if you can get them involved in helping at a local riding school.
Worked with my eldest daughter although unfortunately she still rides nags and hasn't crewed for quite a few years but then she does live some way away.

Bah - if they want to do an expensive sport, they can jolly well do the one I like too!

Horse lovers grow up eventually - my helm's an ex-polo player!
The best cure for daughters is a week's work experience at the local riding stable, preferably during the hottest week of the year - lots of shovelling and smelly stuff and little escape from the heat!

Sorry chaps if it's horses its horses until they discover boys. Some manage both (boats & Horses though the maintainance of both is a full time job.

The mixture of horses (Especially Hunting.)and yachting is long established, and though I prefer my boats trussst me on the powerful aphrodisiac effects of Horse Box deisel, horse shit and damp straw, sweaty horse and sweaty female after a day out in the open air.

I gave in to the daughters/horse thing ten years ago and haven't sailed since then. It took up all the weekends and the money involved makes carbon masts, sails and new Winders seem like small change. Now that the girls are more interested in boys and cars, the horses are gradually being sold and I should be able to get back to sailing.

That's it absolutely typical they usually go off horses just as you've bought the very expensive one!

All very amusing - I was told at a young age that horses are 'dangerous at both ends and uncomfortable in the middle' I am  instill this into my 2 and a bit year old daughter!

Do not despair.  All is not lost.

No. 1 daughter was on a lead rein pony @ one, but windsurfing competently if not confidently by ten.  Just as she was getting good at that, she decided she prefered dinghies, so had a Topper, but Mumsie thought it was a good idea to get a pony, so interest waned in the Topper and it had to go to a more appreciative home. So did I a little while later.  Pony No. 2 was a complete disaster that discouraged both daughter and Mumsie (and cost the latter a lot of money).  Having spent lots of time and money riding other peoples' horses in her teens and passing BHS exams (the RYA of the horsey world) my daughter went through a paradigm shift into tall boat sailing, asking for oilies and a Day Skipper course for Christmas/birthday presents and now she's team racing in Fireflies, secretary of the University Sailing Club and a very useful crew in the Merlin and on the big boat.  Don't know exactly how we managed such a satisfactory outcome, but it's OK!

PS. Can confirm that galloping stallion is roughly equivalent to Merlin in a gale.

We're hoping my wife's horse allergy is genetic!  No horses around here, just plenty of sea so mini merlin on the drawing board.

"That's it absolutely typical they usually go off horses just as you've bought the very expensive one!"

At least if you buy them a new Merlin, you can sail it yourself if they find other persuits. Trust me, I know!

!o be honest having a horse and sailing go together really well.

Ride horse in week and then sail at weekends with quick horsey bits inbetween.
The key to success of owning a horse and crewing is having a understanding helm that lets you off every once in a while for the odd competition on a sunday.But not too often!!!

........but look what happened to the irish water polo team!

I'm 25 and my fiancee is trying to stop me from getting a horse but it won't work.  I'm just sailing til I can afford one.  Merlins are cool but horses are better and faster.

No dear, merlins are better.
Horses smell and are too easy

Wet sailors smell also.  The good thing for me, being an inexperienced sailor, is that when you aim a horse at a stationary object it tends to avoid hitting it, but a boat on the other hand.....

Horse stops, you don't. Ground's harder than water.

I am delighted to report that my daughter asked me the difference between a dinghy and a yacht last night (whilst reading a 'Hairy Maclairy' story!). Surely another definite sign she wants to be a sailor?

It's when she wants to know the difference between a Pony and a Horse and what a gelding is you're in real trouble with shoeing at £100 a set!

mags- it's a sure sign she won't be crewing for you then! unless you acquire a yot

I told my daughter that a pony is merely glue-in-waiting - waiting to be applied to a boat.  She's just 3, so she'll get the joke eventually

Not to mention a few steaks and sausages.

ah yes, don't forget the cheval burgers!